$\begingroup$Google searches suggest, by 20 to 1, that Easterbrook originated this quotation, but he didn't really start writing until after Coase was quoted in print. The best evidence I can find concerning this (and it's still not very good) is Coase's Wikipedia page, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Coase .$\endgroup$
– whuber♦Dec 21 '10 at 18:58

"If you think that statistics has nothing to say about what you do or how you could do it better, then you are either wrong or in need of a more interesting job." - Stephen Senn (Dicing with Death: Chance, Risk and Health, Cambridge University Press, 2003)

$\begingroup$Edward Tufte is a statistician. Started his career with BA and MS in statistics from Stanford, taught and wrote books about statistics for political scientists and is a fellow of the ASA.$\endgroup$
– Kingsford JonesSep 11 '10 at 15:13

$\begingroup$@Kingsford My fault! I was initially thinking of another citation, not from Tufte and didn't remove my first words... I UPDATED my response. Many thanks!$\endgroup$
– chlSep 11 '10 at 21:11

One sees, from this Essay, that the theory of probabilities is basically just common sense reduced to calculus; it makes one appreciate with exactness that which accurate minds feel with a sort of instinct, often without being able to account for it.

$\begingroup$Laplace never took measure theory from a statistics professor ;)$\endgroup$
– JMSMay 27 '11 at 20:34

$\begingroup$@JMS - measure theory not as good as complex analysis perhaps? Laplace was quite good at this I think. Perhaps statistics from analysis perspective has more "common sense" about it than measure theory ;).$\endgroup$
– probabilityislogicMay 28 '11 at 11:52

$\begingroup$calculus: if I recall correctly, the French original is "calcul", more accurately translated as "calculation"$\endgroup$
– Nick CoxNov 17 '14 at 0:43

Attributed ("tongue in cheek," just to make sure we understand the intent) to "G. Dyke." Quoted in Phillip I. Good and James W. Hardin, Common Errors in Statistics: see the very first page of Part I.

A "G. Dyke" is cited in the bibliography as the author of How to avoid bad statistics. Field Crops Res. 1997; 51: 165-197. This apparently is George Dyke, who later in the book is quoted more at length:

The availability of 'user-friendly' statistical software has caused authors to become increasingly careless about the logic of interpreting their results, and to rely uncritically on computer output, often using the 'default option' when something a little different (usually, but not always, a little more complicated) is correct, or at least more appropriate.

[Cited on pp 71-72 in the first edition, 2003.]

A related quotation graces the beginning of Chapter 7:

Cut out the appropriate part of the computer output and paste it onto the draft of the paper.

"After 17 years of interacting with physicians, I have come to realize that many of them are adherents of a religion they call Statistics... Like any good religion, it involves vague mysteries capable of contradictory and irrational interpretation. It has a priesthood and a class of mendicant friars. And it provides Salvation: Proper invocation of the religious dogmas of Statistics will result in publication in prestigious journals."

A bit obscure this one, but a great quote about subjective probability:

... There is no way, however, in which the individual can avoid the
burden of responsibility for his own evaluations. The key cannot be
found that will unlock the enchanted garden wherein, among the
fairy-rings and the shrubs of magic wands, beneath the trees laden
with monads and noumena, blossom forth the flowers of probabilitas
realis. With these fabulous blooms safely in our button-holes we would
be spared the necessity of forming opinions, and the heavy loads we
bear upon our necks would be rendered superflous once and for all.

Thank you for your interest in this question.
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